Kerry Godliman, Pleasance Dome, Edinburgh
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Your support makes all the difference.Slightly cockney and grumpy, Kerry Godliman could be likened to one of Kathy Burke's comedy characters. Godliman is not unduly combative, and the title of her show, This Isn't What I Was Expecting, refers to how she once politely tried to tell the staff at a Little Chef that her breakfast pancakes were more than a little disappointing.
That's not to say she is afraid to be forthright in the face of misleading pizza advertising (it's just a glorified cheese toastie anyway, she maintains) or train companies who thank their customers for travelling with them when they have no other choice.
From a nervous opening, Godliman finds momentum in fits and starts. There are nice lines – "If it weren't for emoticons I wouldn't know what my father was thinking" – and a deft use of the speedily read terms and conditions at the end of adverts applied to the dishonourable intentions of a male suitor.
On a number of occasions, however, Godliman issues a commentary on a scenario without it developing as a routine, as with her closing remarks about her pregnancy, which are highly descriptive but with little comedy flavour.
The theme of the show, expectations, is mile-wide. Because of the ubiquity of the topics, especially advertising, Godliman struggles to convey a unique voice. But enough flashes get through to keep one intrigued.
To 25 August, except 13 (0131-556 6550)
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